Method and system for detecting presence of a bidirectional amplifier

Abstract

The present disclosure provides a method for detecting presence of a bidirectional amplifier. At least one radio signal is transmitted by a detection device, the at least one radio signal being a two-tone stimulus. The at least one transmitted radio signal is received by the bidirectional amplifier. The radio signal is processed by the bidirectional amplifier, thereby amplifying the radio signal while generating third order or higher intermodulation products such that an amplified radio signal is generated that includes the third order or higher intermodulation products. The amplified radio signal is transmitted. The amplified radio signal is received by the detection device. The amplified radio signal is analyzed by the detection device, thereby obtaining detection results. Further, a system for detecting presence of a bidirectional amplifier is shown.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows: 
     
       1. A method for detecting presence of a bidirectional amplifier, the method comprising:
 transmitting at least one radio signal by a detection device, the at least one radio signal being a two-tone stimulus; 
 receiving the at least one transmitted radio signal by the bidirectional amplifier; 
 processing the radio signal by the bidirectional amplifier, thereby amplifying the radio signal while generating third order or higher intermodulation products such that an amplified radio signal is generated that comprises the third order or higher intermodulation products; 
 transmitting the amplified radio signal; 
 receiving the amplified radio signal with the third order or higher intermodulation products by the detection device; and 
 analyzing the amplified radio signal with the third order or higher intermodulation products by the detection device, thereby obtaining detection results. 
 
     
     
       2. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the two-tone stimulus comprises two tones at distinctive and predefined frequencies. 
     
     
       3. The method according to  claim 2 , wherein the distinctive and predefined frequencies are within a passband of the bidirectional amplifier. 
     
     
       4. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the third order or higher intermodulation products are within a passband of the bidirectional amplifier. 
     
     
       5. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the two tones of the two-tone stimulus have the essentially same amplitude. 
     
     
       6. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the two tones of the two-tone stimulus are varied during the method for detecting presence of the bidirectional amplifier. 
     
     
       7. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the amplified radio signal also comprises the amplified two-tone stimulus. 
     
     
       8. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the third order or higher intermodulation products in the amplified radio signal are identified when analyzing the amplified radio signal. 
     
     
       9. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the detection results are visualized by a visualization apparatus. 
     
     
       10. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the detection results are processed in real time. 
     
     
       11. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the detection results are processed in a post-processing. 
     
     
       12. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one radio signal is transmitted by a transmission antenna of the detection device and/or wherein the amplified radio signal is received by a reception antenna of the detection device. 
     
     
       13. The method according to  claim 12 , wherein at least one of the transmission antenna and the reception antenna is established as a directional antenna. 
     
     
       14. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one transmitted radio signal is received by a serving antenna connected with the bidirectional amplifier and/or wherein the amplified radio signal with the third order or higher intermodulation products is transmitted by a donor antenna connected with the bidirectional amplifier. 
     
     
       15. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the bidirectional amplifier is a stationary bidirectional amplifier. 
     
     
       16. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the detection device is mobile. 
     
     
       17. A system for detecting presence of a bidirectional amplifier, the system comprising a detection device with a transmission antenna configured to transmit at least one radio signal being a two-tone stimulus, the detection device further comprising a reception antenna configured to receive an amplified radio signal that comprises third order or higher intermodulation products, wherein the amplified radio signal with the third order or higher intermodulation products is generated by the bidirectional amplifier to be detected, and the detection device being configured to analyze the amplified radio signal in order to identify the third order or higher intermodulation products within the amplified radio signal. 
     
     
       18. The system according to  claim 17 , wherein the system comprises bidirectional amplifier that is configured to receive the at least one radio signal transmitted by the detection device, the bidirectional amplifier being configured to process the radio, thereby amplifying the radio signal while generating third order or higher intermodulation products such that an amplified radio signal is generated that comprises the third order or higher intermodulation products, the bidirectional amplifier being further configured to transmit the amplified radio signal.